John Logie Baird (b.1888 Helensburg Scotland, d.1946) was one of the pioneers of television. From 1923 he devoted his time to its development, and in 1925 he gave the first public demonstration at which crude images were transmitted between two machines.

By 1929 as Baird's developments in the laboratory began to emerge, an agreement was made with the BBC and the Baird Television Co for regular experimental transmissions of television pictures from its London station. These transmissions, which took place for half hour periods five days a week, had a definition of 30 lines and a repetition frequency of 12.5 frames per second. The Baird Televisor, the first commercial television receiver, was available from February 1930 to receive these transmissions.

The images received by the Televisor were viewed through a magnifying glass on the right-hand side of the unit. It was necessary to constantly monitor the image and adjust the knob in the centre of the Televisor, which controlled the speed of the internal spinning (Nipkow) disk, synchronising it with the transmission frequency. The pictures were small, flickering and poorly defined but were considered entertaining and a wonder in their time.

Although the Baird electro-mechanical system of television was superseded by developments in cathode-ray tube technology by the mid 1930s, Baird's contributions to the development of television were significant. It was Baird's enthusiasm, enterprise and publicity which indirectly caused others to undertake serious research in this field.

James Logie Baird, (b.1888 Helensburg Scotland), was one of the best known pioneers of television in the United Kingdom. From 1923 he devoted his time to the development of the television and in 1925, gave a public demonstration at which crude images were transmitted betweeen two machines. The first emergence of the television from the laboratory is said to date from about 1929 when an agreement was made with the BBC and the Baird Television Co. for regular experimental transmissions of television pictures from its London station. These transmissions took place for half hour periods on five days of each week, and had a definition of 30 lines and a repetition frequency of 12.5 frames per second. The Baird Televisor, the first commercially available television receiver, was offered from February 1930, to receive these transmitions.

Television, electro-mechanical, Baird 'Televisor', with photocopies of instruction booklet and price list, Baird International Television Ltd, London, England, c. 1930.

The electro-mechanical television, the scanning disc and neon lamp are housed within a khaki brown painted metal case, set on a wooden base board with iron legs. The main body of the case is rectangular with rounded corners, a partial 'disk' of casing protrudes both top and bottom, the front face of the unit has a rectangular panel on the left side, slightly recessed with a centrally located Bakelite knob. A copper coloured metal plaque, bearing the manufacturer's name and the model name of the unit is located in the centre, there is a Bakelite knob at the base of the plaque, and to the right side is a small rectangular glass 'screen', deeply recessed into the case. On the back is a plaque bearing the manufacturers details and serial number of the object.

Photocopies of the instruction booklet for the Baird Televisor, 24 pages bound in a plastic ring binder, include the article "The origin and progress of Television".

Photocopies of the "Price list of Baird branded components" for the 'Televisor', 8 pages bound in a plastic ring binder.

Designer: Baird, James Logie; England

Maker: Baird Television Company; England; 1930 - 1935

See parts

K1192

550 mm

695 mm

320 mm